URGENT UPDATE: A jury has officially been selected for the high-profile trial of celebrity croc wrangler and Netflix star Matt Wright, as proceedings begin at the NT Supreme Court today. This case follows the tragic death of his co-star, Chris Wilson, who died in a helicopter crash during a crocodile egg-collecting mission on February 28, 2022.
More than 400 potential jurors were summoned to participate in the selection process, which concluded with 12 jurors—including 4 women and 8 men, along with 2 female reservists. The trial is expected to last five weeks. Prosecutor Jason Gullaci SC led the questioning of potential jurors, urging them to disclose any conflicts of interest related to the case, including connections to Wright, Wilson, or the legal teams involved.
The court heard that over two hours, 53 individuals requested to be excused from jury duty due to personal ties with those involved, including several who knew Wilson or Wright. Justice Blow remarked on the dwindling number of eligible jurors, stating, “I think we started with 107 jury members, I think I’ve excused half of them and we’re still going.”
Wright, aged 34, stands accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to the investigation into Wilson’s tragic death. It is alleged that he made efforts to compromise the inquiry on three separate occasions over a period of seven months following the incident.
Justice Blow has cautioned the jury about the intense public interest in the trial. He stressed the importance of disregarding any external information or gossip, particularly from social media. “If you have read, or heard, or been told anything relating to this case prior to this afternoon, it’s very important you ignore it,” he emphasized.
As the trial unfolds, all eyes are on the courtroom, with significant public engagement expected. The opening address will continue on Wednesday morning, setting the stage for what promises to be a captivating and emotional legal battle.
Stay tuned for live updates as this critical case progresses.
